OL97: Password Dialog Box is Always Unpopulated at Startup

When you log on to Microsoft Outlook 97 you may always get an Enter Password dialog box that is not populated with the User Name or Domain Name.

You are using the Microsoft Exchange Server service and there is no Exchange key for this user profile in the Windows registry.

Modify the Windows registry to add the Exchange key for this user profile.

The Domain Name and User Name that display in the Enter Password dialog box are stored in a Windows registry entry called Exchange, in keys named LogonDomain and UserName. Logging on to Outlook the first time builds and populates these two keys, if the Exchange registry entry is present. If the Exchange entry is not present, the domain and user information is not stored and the Enter Password dialog box will always be completely unpopulated.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

Add the Exchange Entry to the Windows Registry

To modify the registry to resolve this problem follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Exit and Log Off.
2. Click Start on the Taskbar, and click Run.
3. In the Open window type REGEDIT and click OK.
4. Move to the following entry in the registry:

         HKEY_USERS\<UserName>\Software\Microsoft
   						

5. Right-click on the Microsoft entry, point to New and click Key.
6. Type the name Exchange for the new key and press Enter.
7. Exit the Registry Editor.
8. Restart Outlook.
9. Type the User Name, Domain Name, and Password, in the blank Enter Password dialog box and then click OK.

RESULT: This builds the LogonDomain and UserName registry keys and populates them with the values typed above. The next time Outlook starts the Password dialog box is already populated with these values.

To Start Outlook without the Password Dialog Box

If you choose, you can store your password as well as the Domain Name and User Name, so that the Enter Password dialog box is not presented at all by following these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Services.
2. Click the Microsoft Exchange Server service and click Properties.
3. On the Advanced tab, click to select "Use network security during logon."
4. Click OK and OK.